Subject: [baidarka] Why build boats? [was: Aleut Culture Camp]
From: Peter Chopelas (pac@premier1.net)
Date: Wed Apr 05 2006 - 20:16:16 EDT
David E. Sherman/King Con wrote:
>Someone once told me
>that I was being ridiculous for building a SOF because I could have
>earned so much more, in the time required to build it, than that I
>would have been required to spend to get a "real" boat. Who needs to
>get real in that scenario?
>
>
I think this unfortunant person has degenerated his life down measuring
his time down only to money and has not thought about his own hobbies
much. I thought about this many years ago too, my work time generates
way more money than the my time value of even very expesive produciton
kayaks. But I just could not get over the fact that I LIKE building
things with my hands, and that I actually spend more time building than
I do using them. Then I realized I actually like building them more
than using them. Even using a kayak is not 'real', it is an
unproductive use of time, few make money off of it, so why do it? Why
go kayaking at all? Why build kayaks is just as mindless a question.
Building is a creative act that gives pleasure in ways that can not be
measured in dollars. If your only motivation was getting a boat, than
buying a used plastic tub would be cheaper and faster. But I would also
differ as what is a "real" kayak; a mass produced plastic tub, not of
your design or workmanship, made of non-traditional boat building
materials and methods I would not consider a "real" boat, but a cheap
copy if not a toy. If you have no creative impulses than you would not
see any value in doing anything creative at all. What is fun I think
about boat building is that you can get the pleasue and satisfaction of
doing a creative act that makes something both attractive and fun to
use. You do not get that kind of pleasure by buying a mass produced
tupperware kayak. Many people like to cook, or make art, would he say
it to them it would be cheaper to go buy printed (fake) art to hang on
your walls? Understanding the creative aspect of building anything with
your hands, you do not have to fool yourself into thinking you are doing
something "productive". I do not NEED a rational reason for building
kayaks by hand of wood and fabric other than I like doing it. Nobody
needs a kayak at all, why build one or buy one? It is just a fun and
statisfying activity to do. When someone asks me that question I simply
say "I like doing it, even more than working, it is fun, creative and
gives me personal satification, I do not need any more reason than that!"
Why play golf? to chase a little ball around to try and get it in a
little hole? Why fish, to try to out smart a fish brain? (buying 'real'
fish from the store is way cheaper and faster). Why waste time watching
"the game" on TV every saterday? (talk about waste of time!). I would
much rather engage in some creative activity that do any of these
things. I think most people can not be very creative so they fritter
their time away with golf, fishing, or watching TV, and then see no
value in others creative works.
I do not think the person that asked you that question has even thought
through what he does with his own spare time. He is a most unfortuante
individual, he knows the cost of everthing, but knows nothing of value.
Peter
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